LGBT Specialist Counselors Provide Free Counseling Through New Community Partnerships

The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology LGBT Specialization has recently partnered with local community-based organizations to form COLORS and Antioch Alive. AULA trained graduate students are providing free counseling to individuals who may lack sufficient resources and support, namely LGBT youth and individuals living with HIV.

“We are following AULA’s core values of social justice and service to community,” says Joy Turek, Ph.D., Program Chair and Faculty, M.A. in Psychology. “With our LGBT Specialization and our partnerships with COLORS and Antioch Alive we are training our student therapists to work with the LGBT community in affirmative ways.”

COLORS:

The LGBT Specialization partnered with The Relational Center and Pueblo Nuevo Development Corporation (PND) to create this comprehensive center to combat the epidemic of suicides and bullying directed against LGBTQ youth. COLORS offers this underserved population and their families counseling, psychotherapy, support, advocacy and academic support free of charge. COLORS is committed to creating a world where LGBTQ youth are valued, embraced and invited to contribute to their full potential. COLORS is currently operating a satellite at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center's Lifeworks and also at The Relational Center. The main COLORS site will be located at the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Los Angeles, which will begin seeing clients in early fall.

Antioch Alive:

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. To improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS and reduce health disparities, the LGBT Specializationhas partnered with Being Alive, a peer-driven agency for people living with HIV/AIDS. Being Alive specializes in supportive services, education, wellness and self-empowerment to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Seeing a need for mental health services, Antioch University Los Angeles joined with Being Alive to form Antioch Alive. LGBT Specialization graduate students offer free on-site counseling providingpowerful tools and resources to individuals to become stronger and realize their full-potential.

Join Antioch Alive at the craft and Folk Art Museum on Friday, July 29, 2011 from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. for a “Fiesta Under the Stars.” Donations are $30.00 in advance or $35.00 at the door. For more information call 323-874-4322 or email info [at] beingalivela [dot] org.